Scripture: Nehemiah 2 Sermon: “Rebuilding the Ruins”

722 BC Northern kingdom conquered by Assyria; ten tribes exiled or mingled with others 605 BC Daniel and others taken to Babylon 586 BC Babylon destroys Jerusalem and temple 539 Belshazzar’s feast; Persia conquers Babylon 538 BC Persian King Cyrus calls Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple 536 BC Work begins on the temple Temple work interrupted by opposition Temple completed 478 BC Esther becomes queen of Persian Empire 474 BC Haman’s plot fails and he is hanged 458 BC Priest Ezra arrives in Jerusalem 445 BC Governor Nehemiah arrives in August; walls completed in October

Rebuilding the Ruins 1.A heart to do something 2.Combine prayer with action 3.Ready to battle and to build 4.Unite servant leaders, willing workers 5.Repent of sin; rejoice in the Lord

1. A heart to do something “This can be nothing but sadness of heart” (2:2). “Send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it” (2:5). Scouting the dream: “I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” (2:12). Sharing the dream: “Come, let us rebuild. I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me” (2:17-18).

2. Combine prayer with action “I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (1:4). Seek renewed relationship with God before saying, “Grant your servant success” (1:11). Four months later: “I prayed to the God of heaven and answered the king” (2:4). “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding” (2:20). “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

“We prayed to our God and posted a guard (4:9). “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight” (4:14). (Pray like everything depends on God; fight like everything depends on you.) “We were aware of their plot … God had frustrated it” (4:15). “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands’” (6:9).

Constant conversation with God: “Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads” (4:4). Remember me (5:19; 13:14,22, 31) “Remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love” (13:22). Remember evildoers (6:14, 13:29). The book of Nehemiah begins with prayer, is filled with prayer, and ends with prayer: “Remember me with favor, O my God” (13:31).

3. Ready to battle and to build “When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work” (4:15). “Half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor… Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked” (4:16-18). “guards by night and workmen by day” (4:22)

a. Christians are an army of battlers “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). “Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 1:3). b. Christians are a crew of builders “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). “Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13). “Try to excel in gifts that build up the church” (1 Cor. 14:12). “The authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down” (2 Cor. 13:10). c. The stronger the building becomes, the easier it is to resist attacks.

Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:20-21).

4. Unite servant leaders, willing workers The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under the supervisors (3:5). Shallum repaired the next section with the help of his daughters (3:12). I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (4:19-20)

I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised (5:12) The earlier governors—those preceding me— placed a heavy burden on the people… Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall” (5:15-16). “All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law…The Levites read from the Book of the Law, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” (8:3,8).

5. Repent of sin; rejoice in the Lord All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (8:9-10).

At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out … to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving… I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks… And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. (12:27,31,43)

Rebuilding the Ruins 1.A heart to do something 2.Combine prayer with action 3.Ready to battle and to build 4.Unite servant leaders, willing workers 5.Repent of sin; rejoice in the Lord